Perineal color doppler ultrasound of periurethral vascularization in women affected by urinary stress incontinence

This study aimed to assess the vascular parameters of the urethra through an ultrasound assessment using the trans-labial convex probe (Voluson E8 GE) in women affected by stress incontinence and compare them with women who do not have the disorder. Patients with USI recruited for the group of cases were 12, and the women not affected by USI were 12. The study compares patients with a disease (cases) with patients who do not have the disease (controls). The design of the study is a controlled case-control observational trial. Thus, the data gathered were the resistance index (RI) and the color score of the studied area to quantify the degree of vascularization. The semi-quantitative parameter identified through the power doppler was the resistance index (RI). The qualitative parameter was the color score of the studied area, obtained through the color doppler assessment; these data were used to quantify each patient's vascularization degree. The ANOVA test showed a significant difference between the RI values in group 0 (NO USI) and group 1 (USI). The ROC curve analysis was used, demonstrating that the diagnostic test is adequate and has a high discriminating value for identifying the true positives and the true negatives. The Doppler, therefore, is an important instrument that helps diagnose the more common vascular disorders in climacteric and menopause

Pelvic arterial embolization for postpartum hemorrhage: long term results of a single center experience in 29,091 deliveries

Purpose of investigation: To evaluate the rate of all postpartum hemorrhages (PPHs) treated with uterine embolization in a third level delivery center. Materials and Methods: Since January 2008 to March 2014, 29,091 deliveries were registered in the present hospital in Bergamo, Italy. Among these deliveries, 2,002 cases (6.8%) of PPHs occurred. Seventy-three patients with severe obstetric hemorrhage underwent uterine artery embolization (UAE) (47 cases, 1.61/1,000 deliveries) or hysterectomy (26 cases, 0.89/1,000 deliveries). All identified cases were followed up by telephone on January 2015 in order to evaluate long term results. Results: Embolization was performed successfully in 45 patients (95.7%). Two women underwent total abdominal hysterectomy: one patient for uterine atony and one for adherent placenta. In the follow up all the women interviewed reported the return of their menstrual cycle and 95.2% of women reported regular cycles. Conclusions: Embolization showed a success rate of 95.7%. For this reason, in the authors’ opinion, it is the best choice as second line treatment of PPH, when patient is hemodynamically stable

Piattaforma PAES

Il presente rapporto descrive la progettazione e l’implementazione della piattaforma web PAES sviluppata nell’ambito del progetto ES-PA (Energia e Sostenibilità per la Pubblica Amministrazione). Lo sviluppo dei servizi web, in grado di rispondere ai fabbisogni informativi degli esperti del settore dell’efficienza energetica, costituisce uno dei focus della mission dell’ENEA (Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l’Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile). A tal fine non si può prescindere dalla digitalizzazione dei processi di gestione dei dati energetici, ovvero dalla loro trasformazione da sistemi cartacei statici ad ipertesti ed applicazioni integrate con algoritmi, modelli e simulazioni. In questo contesto, l’ENEA ha realizzato un portale a supporto delle amministrazioni locali per la gestione digitale dei PAES (Piani d’Azione per l’Energia Sostenibile) che contribuisse, anche attraverso la realizzazione di una banca dati e la progettazione di sistemi di simulazione, alla disseminazione e replicabilità delle buone pratiche realizzate con successo in contesti diversi.This report describes the design and implementation of the PAES web platform developed in the ESPA (Energy and Sustainability for Public Administration) project. The development of web services is one of the focuses of the mission of ENEA (National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development). At this aim, the digitization of energy data management processes, that is, their transformation from static paper systems to hypertexts and applications integrated with algorithms, models and simulations, cannot be ignored. In this context, ENEA created a web portal to support local governments in the digital management of SEAPs (Sustainable Energy Action Plans) that would contribute, through the creation of a database and the design of simulation systems, to the dissemination and replicability of good practices successfully implemented in different contexts

The role of sintering time on reversibility of Ni(s)-NiO(s) electrodes for high-temperature solid oxide-electrolyte galvanic cells

The reversibility of solid-electrolyte galvanic cells such as, Mo|Ni(s)-NiO(s)|CSZ|Fe(s)-Fe1-δO(s)|Mo, (CSZ = CaO-contg. ZrO2) was studied with respect to the sintering time of the active powders.  Pellets from short (7 h) and long (14 h) sintering times were prepd. and assembled to give the above cells.  Each of them was thermally cycled and only the cells contg. Ni(s)-NiO(s) electrodes prepd. with a long sintering time gave emf. vs. T curves which were independent of cycle.  These values agreed closely with the literature.  For the cell reaction, NiO(s) + (1 - δ)Fe(s) = Ni(s) + Fe1-δO(s), ΔG = -(27.85 ± 0.06) - (0.02157 ± 0.00004)T kJ mol-1 at 977-1350 K.  To check the electrochem. reversibility, cyclic voltammetry was also used.  On the basis of these results and of SEM anal. of the electrode pellets, a mechanism is proposed whereby only at long sintering time would a triple phase contact at the electrode/electrolyte interface be produced